Squash Blossom Classic
Cyclist endure strong winds

Aaron Johnson blasts by a balancing rock at Second Mesa during the High Desert Screamer on Saturday. Johnson, who finished third in the Singlespeed category, along with hundreds of others riders and runners descended upon Gallup this weekend for the annual Squash blossom classic. [Photo by Brian Leddy/Independent]

By Karen Francis
Staff writer

GALLUP — Participation was on the rise at this year’s Squash Blossom Classic, even though the event was mired with tragedy and bad weather.

The Third Annual Squash Blossom Classic was held over the weekend with several different biking and racing events at various locations around Gallup.

There are two purposes for the Squash Blossom – to bring tourists into Gallup and to promote the Native American culture that makes Gallup so unique, event director Lindsay Mapes said.

One way that the second goal is achieved is by giving away prizes that include Native American-made jewelry such as squash blossom necklaces, bolo ties and pottery. Usually, Native American vendors are able to sell at the festival, but this year, the weather made it impossible.

Mapes also noted that one of the races goes through the Navajo reservation.

“You get to see the terrain. You can see very typical Navajo things, like sheep, that most people don’t get to see everyday,” Mapes said.

Gusty winds on Saturday afternoon closed down the scheduled festival at the courthouse square in downtown Gallup. The festival was supposed to include a beer tent, a climbing wall, music and vendors. On Saturday afternoon as the winds raged and the climbing wall could be seen but was not set up for use.

Despite the blustery weather, more people than ever before registered and participated for the events. And most of those who participated were from out of town, which fulfilled the first goal for the event.

“We don’t have that many from Gallup,” Mapes said adding that a number of people came from places such as Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Tucson, Durango, Denver and El Paso.

Saturday’s event schedule began at 9 a.m. with the Time Trial event, a 6.3 mile time trial from Wingate High School to McGaffey Lake

Criterion
The Criterium was held later in the day at the courthouse square. Also held on Saturday was the popular kids’ bike race.

Mapes was especially pleased that participation in the Time Trial, a challenging uphill road course, was nearly double what event planners were expecting.

“I thought with the wind, people wouldn’t want to ride,” Mapes said. “But these people are doing it.”

On Saturday was also the 23-mile mountain bike race known as the Screamer. The event uses the High Desert Trail System, which was built in 2004. Though about 100 people were expected, 150 showed up to participate in the Screamer, which is part of the New Mexico Off Road Series, even with the dusty winds.

“There was dust in the crevice of everyone’s head,” Mapes said.

The Criterium, road races which began at 4 p.m. on Saturday, is an event that has been happening in Gallup on and off for the past 20 years.

For Mapes, the effort she puts into the annual event as its director is worth it because of all the positive feedback that she gets from people who are not from Gallup.

“This is a really cool town,” she said. “After the event is done we get such positive comments. It’s so rewarding.”

Positive words
Charlie Drysdale from Santa Fe was one of those who had positive words for the event.

“It’s great. This is my second year here,” he said. Last year, he took a fall during one of the races. This year he won for his level in the Time Trial with a final time of 23:43.

“It’s well organized,” he said. “I’ll be coming back next year.”

The Rutherfords of Gallup were there to watch their son compete. Their son Benjamin Rutherford came in third place in the junior beginner men category with a time of 52:11.1

“It’s great for Gallup . We usually come here every year,” Mrs. Rutherford said.

Even Mountain Flyer Magazine was impressed with the Squash Blossom Classic.

“It’s a great place for biking,” Caroline Spaeth said. Spaeth rode in the Screamer event last year but was only watching this year.

Gallup was featured in a recent issue of Mountain Flyer, Spaeth said.

The Squash Blossom Classic was an initiative by former Gallup Mayor Bob Roseborough, who was on hand at many of the events.